Raised within a sprawling polygamous family across multiple regions of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Nhlakanipho Ndzimandze learnt early in life the value of shared heritage and equal affection.
Growing up as both a son and a grandson, his formative years were heavily spent at the homestead of his late grandfather, Mkhumbi Ngcamphalala. Surrounded by the creative ingenuity of the Ngcamphalala family, whose talents spanned handwork, drawing and the crafting of custom fonts, Ndzimandze developed a deep appreciation for artistic expression rooted in siSwati traditions. “BakaNgcamphalala can do arts, all of them. I grew up surrounded by artists, from handwork to drawing to the creation of fonts and I can do everything they can do,” Ndzimandze shared. His background across areas such as Siphofaneni, Siteki, Gege, Masundvwini, Mbabane, KaLanga, Siphocosini, Gudvwini and Lwandle instilled in him an abiding connection to traditional practices.
From understanding custom procedures such as Kuteka, kugidza, emalobolo and kuhlambisa to active participation in umtsimba and farming, his early upbringing formed the foundation for his current work as a digital creative and cultural advocate.
His journey into technology began modestly with early mobile handsets. Playing games on his grandmother’s Nokia 3310 expanded into downloading applications on foldable devices around 2007. Over the years, this fascination evolved alongside Eswatini’s digital advancement under the leadership of His Majesty King Mswati III. Today, that interest has transitioned into a dedicated focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential to preserve national culture while creating sustainable economic opportunities.
“My grandmothers told me that the King wants us to WhatsApp and sway away from using ‘bobhompompo’,” he said.
Currently, Ndzimandze is structuring a comprehensive digital initiative designed to pair traditional arts with modern technological frameworks, aiming to establish lifetime employment opportunities for emaSwati.
“I am structuring a project that will allow me to give lifetime jobs to everyone who has an art paired with our culture. We have a very special siSwati culture and that is our specialty as a country in global markets,” he noted.
Professionally, his approach centres on collaborative integration and mutual benefit. Ndzimandze believes that leveraging technology to solve local challenges serves a higher purpose of uplifting others while celebrating national identity.
Among his major achievements is the release of Mswaz’omnyama, a music single accompanied by an AI-animated video produced to honour His Majesty King Mswati III’s 40-year reign. The project uses real-life events and period imagery brought to life through AI-enabled motion, with the song serving as a musical version of His Majesty King Mswati III’s praises.
A celebration of the King’s leadership, resilience and national progress, the video blends archival photos with modern technology to tell the story of Eswatini’s infrastructure and development legacy under His Majesty’s four decades of leadership. Led by Ndzimandze, with technical and executive production by Genesis Ekucaleni Media and assistance from historian Lethumusa Simelane, the project serves as a musical rendition of Ingwenyama’s praises (Tibongo Tenkhosi). By combining historical photographs with motion synthesis, the visual piece documents four decades of national infrastructure development and socio-economic progress under the leadership of BakaNgwane.
A distinctive feature of the project is its primary narrative voice, rendered through a female AI character. Ndzimandze explained that this design choice reflects the expanding leadership roles of women across Eswatini in contemporary society. “What I love about it is that it is a female AI character singing this song and it aligns very well with how women in the kingdom have taken charge and show their talents, skills and arts just like males have been doing,” he explained, pointing to historic milestones such as the appointment of Tandzile Maziya as the first female official interpreter for Ingwenyama.
The production process required careful attention to detail and creative courage.
Ndzimandze expressed deep gratitude to key supporters who enabled the project and his broader portfolio, including Minister Shakantu, Babe Lethumusa Simelane, Mcebo Shongwe, Dumsani Motsa, Luyandza Ngozo, the Masundvwini Chiefdom, libutfo, Notsa Traditional Attire, the Eswatini National Trust Commission at Mantenga, Eagles Transport, the Eswatini National Archives and Records, Emazinyane eMbube, tindvuna te Ngwenyama and Inyatsi Group Holdings. Ndzimandze continues his collaboration with Lethumusa Simelane on ‘Tinshumayelo Tesintfu’, a cultural documentation initiative that recently marked its first anniversary on digital platforms.
“We will soon use AI as well to get to the younger generation like those in pre and primary schools.” Looking towards the future, Ndzimandze aims to establish what he terms a ‘LiSwati Dream’, a collective vision where local citizens derive sustainable livelihoods from digital tools while sharing siSwati heritage with international audiences. “I have always heard of the ‘American Dream’, but I want to create a ‘LiSwati Dream’ that every Liswati is part of, benefits from and that makes other nations want to join our culture and country,” he remarked.
In offering guidance to young emaSwati seeking their career path, Ndzimandze urged them to anchor their ambitions in their personal identity and ancestral history.
“My final words of advice to those who are in search of something to be obsessed about, they should first know their real surnames and then focus on both their surname and its praises, for their real gifts and callings are there.”
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